Wichita Public Schools offers many programs to support students over the summer

Wichita Public Schools offers many programs to support students over the summer

Wichita Public Schools offers many programs during the summer for students, whether by open enrollment or by invitation aimed at specific students, to help bridge the summer learning gap. This summer, WPS will offer six new summer programs targeted for specific student groups, along with programs that have been offered for years. The programs offer a wide variety of options including original and recovery high school credit, strengthening reading and math skills, getting a head start on kindergarten or providing fun summer activities for elementary students. More information can be found at www.usd259.org/summer.

High school summer school enrollment, which allows high school students to make up credit or take original credit for P.E., financial literacy and government, will start April 15. The classes can be taken in person at North, or online, with the exception of P.E. This popular program has been offered for many years.

There are other opportunities for students to make up credits in order to graduate or continue with their classmates during the summer. New this year WPS will have a Summer Learning Center offered in July at West High School and Chester Lewis Learning Academy for students who need a little more time completing their credits.

There are five other new programs this summer targeted for specific students at all grade levels who need extra support in language arts and math to help stop summer learning loss. The new programs include the Summer Counts program for incoming 1st – 4th grade students at 5 elementary schools and Jumpstart to Kindergarten, which will be for targeted incoming kindergarten students for learning and socialization. The programs are targeted for specific students and the schools will reach out to those families to let them know about the opportunities.

The WPS summer latchkey has begun registration at elementary schools that host the program. Parents can find out more information at their elementary school or at www.usd259.org/latchkey.

The summer food program, which provides free breakfast and lunch to any child 18 or younger, will be available starting May 29. More information will be posted at www.usd259.org/summerfood.

The summer programs support two goals of our Strategic Plan – increase the graduation rate and increase 3rd grade reading proficiency – and help stop summer learning loss so that every student is Future Ready.